Quick Facts
Biography
Natalia Rodríguez Martínez (born 2 June 1979 in Tarragona) is a Spanish middle distance runner who specializes in the 1500 metres. She represented Spain at the Summer Olympics in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012.
At the 2009 IAAF World Championships, Rodríguez initially finished first in the 1500 m, but was disqualified for tripping Gelete Burka. With 200 meters to go, Rodríguez thought she had a clear path to pass the Ethiopian runner on the inside, but when she attempted the pass, the pair collided and Burka crashed to the track.
She won the silver medal at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships, before going on to take the bronze medal outdoor at the 2010 European Athletics Championships.
She won the 2011 Cursa Bombers 10K race in Barcelona, although hot weather and a Catalan-only rule meant the race was uncompetitive.
Achievements
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing  Spain | |||||
| 1996 | World Junior Championships | Sydney, Australia | 16th (h) | 800m | 2:09.09 |
| 1998 | World Junior Championships | Annecy, France | 6th | 1500 m | 4:16.20 |
| 1999 | European U23 Championships | Gothenburg, Sweden | 4th | 1500m | 4:10.65 |
| 2000 | Olympic Games | Sydney, Australia | 12th (heats) | 1500 m | 4:22.82 |
| 2001 | European U23 Championships | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 2nd | 1500m | 4:11.20 |
| World Championships | Edmonton, Canada | 6th | 1500 m | 4:07.10 | |
| 2002 | European Championships | Munich, Germany | 6th | 1500 m | 4:06.15 |
| 2003 | World Championships | Paris, France | 11th (semis) | 1500 m | 4:08.80 |
| 2004 | World Indoor Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 5th (heats) | 1500 m | 4:13.52 |
| Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | 10th | 1500 m | 4:03.01 | |
| World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 4th | 1500 m | 4:05.72 | |
| 2005 | World Championships | Helsinki, Finland | 6th | 1500 m | 4:03.06 |
| World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 8th | 1500 m | 4:03.72 | |
| 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, People's Republic of China | 6th | 1500 m | 4:03.19 |
| 2009 | European Indoor Championships | Turin, Italy | 1st | 1500 m | 4:08.72 |
| World Championships | Berlin, Germany | — | 1500 m | DQ | |
| 2010 | World Indoor Championships | Doha, Qatar | 2nd | 1500m | 4:08.30 |
| European Championships | Barcelona, Spain | 3rd | 1500m | 4:01.30 | |
| 2011 | World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | 3rd | 1500m | 4:05.87 |
| 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | 13th (heats) | 1500 m | 4:16.18 |
| 2013 | European Indoor Championships | Gothenburg, Sweden | — | 1500 m | DNS (final) |
| World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 8th (heats) | 1500 m | 4:09.18 | |
Personal bests
- 800 metres – 2:01.35 (2001)
- 1500 metres – 3:59.51 (2005)
- Mile – 4:21.92 (2008)
- 3000 metres – 8:35.86 (2009)
- 5000 metres – 16:15.21 (2011)